My Second January Sunday Challenge Project

      Such an original title for my post! LOL My day started off so beautifully when I discovered I was the winner of two blog giveaways... it can't think of a better beginning to my Sunday. More details and pics in my next blog update.
      The sun is shining and the pups and I had a nice long walk this morning. It felt balmy with temps in the lower 20s. Winter arrived in northeast Iowa with a vengeance this past Wednesday night. We had a combination of snow, sleet, very gusty winds and temps dipping down into the negative numbers. Our beautiful prairie is covered in snow and the pups and I will have to be content to walk on shoveled sidewalks and plowed streets from the remainder of the winter. We've been so fortunate this year to delay snow cover until mid January... our winter snows have begun in November the past few years.
      First, I wanted to share a snap of a lovely gift I received from my friend Nicola in Cornwall. I was the first person to leave a comment on her new blog. If you haven't visited Nicola's blog, Stitching by a Cornish Sea Shore,  you must go right now and see her beautiful stitching,absolutely gorgeous photos of Cornwall and the beautiful cove on Lizard Peninsula, and her Boxer pups, Blue and Poppy. I feel like I'm taking a mini vacation every time I visit Nicola's blog.

 Nicola knows how much the prairie means to me and the pups and  she could not have sent me a more perfect chartpak. Look at all those lovely trims, floss and fabric. Thank you my friend... your gift is very much appreciated and your new blog a pure joy.
      Despite the snow, wonderful gifts in the mail and pup walks I was still able to find time to select and start my second January Sunday Challenge project. Without further fanfare or delay.... here is my start on Frederick.

 Frederick

Carriage House Samplings

40 ct Lakeside Pearled Barley

Needlepoint Inc silks

I wanted to pick a smaller project for my second start... I'm always drawn to the large repro samplers. I'm not sure I've really given myself a break though as I can't just stitch Frederick. He'd be too lonely without his mate Frederika. I don't know if I'll even get to start Frederika in 2012, but if not she's sure to make it on the list of 2013 projects.
       I'm looking forward to catching bits and pieces of the Australian Open the next couple of weeks. Most of the live action will be taking place during the hours I'm asleep... but I hope to catch some of my favorite tennis players in action.
       Be sure to check back next week to see what I found in my stitching closet and chose for my third January Sunday Challenge project.

I am grateful for the sunshine and blue skies on our Sunday morning walk.